Klatten inherited her stake in BMW from her late father, Herbert Quandt. Recently increased her stake in pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturer Altana to 88%; trained economist sits on Altana’s board of supervisors.

Inherited 25% stake in Dutch brewer Heineken seven years ago from her late father, Freddy Heineken. Company is one of the world’s great brewers, with more than 170 premium brands in more than 65 countries.

Since 1982 has headed Axel Johnson Group, a diversified trading company founded by her great-grandfather in 1873.

14. Johanna Quant
$5 billion
BMW. Germany. 82.
Widowed, two children

Former secretary and third wife of the late Herbert Quandt, the German executive who rescued automaker BMW from bankruptcy.

15. Yang Huiyan
$4.8 billion
Real estate. China. 27.
Married

China’s richest woman graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in marketing and logistics. Joined family property developer, Country Garden, in 2005 as the manager of the procurement department.

Inherited two of the country’s largest companies for her father: $75 billion (assets) Bank Hapoalim and infrastructure behemoth Housing & Construction. Also owns large chunk of cruise operator Carnival

19. Heidi Horten
$3 billion
Department stores. Vienna. 68.
Widowed

Apparently met Helmut Horten, founder of eponymous German department store chain, in a hotel bar in 1959 when she was 19 years old.